Parliamentary questions

Helen Eadie

919 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been given to local authorities on external tendering for the operation of school bus services and whether a pilot tendering system for improved operation of these services will be trialled.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive providesinformation on procurement policy and general guidance for the Scottish publicsector.The Executive’s guidance toeducation authorities on provision of school transport includes advice oncontracting with bus providers. The …

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been given to NHS boards and the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) on possible external tendering for the operation of the Patient Transport Service (PTS) where the SAS is unable to cater for fluctuating demand and whether a pilot tendering system for operation of the PTS…

Answer · Andy Kerr: Health Department Letter (2004)33 Clarification of Finance (Revenue) Arrangements Relating to the Scottish AmbulanceService (SAS) describes the partnership and funding arrangements that are in placeto support planned changes to the level or pattern of demand …

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been given to local authorities on the (a) operation of, (b) funding of and (c) obtaining of best value from local demand-responsive transport travel dispatch centres and minibus management centres, including guidance on whether these should be operated in-house or tende…

Answer · Tavish Scott: We have drawn local authorities’attention to guidance in consultants’ reports. I refer the member to the answerto question S2W 29835 on 24 November 2006. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacili…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been given to local authorities on the (a) operation of, (b) funding of and (c) obtaining of best value from local demand-responsive transport provision, including on whether such provision should be in-house or tendered.

Answer · Tavish Scott: We have drawn local authorities’attention to guidance in consultants’ reports. I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-29835 on 24 November 2006. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacili…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is given to local authorities on the composition and membership of strategic transport partnerships, including on representation of community transport operators, and whether it will provide details of community transport operators’ representation on strategic transport part…

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executivepublished guidance on the membership of the seven regional transportpartnerships in its document Scotland’s Transport Future: Regional Transport Partnerships– Guidance on Membership in December 2005.The guidance states that themaj…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is given to local authorities on requiring tenders for provision of subsidised bus services and whether community transport operators are required to be included in any tendering process.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The requirement on local authoritiesto invite tenders for subsidised transport services was repealed by s60(3)(c) of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003. The act requires that local authoritiessecure Best Value in the performance of their functions, and…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is given to local authorities on obtaining best value in respect of meeting passenger transport needs.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The duty of Best Value requireslocal authorities to make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the performanceof their functions, which includes their passenger transport functions. Statutoryguidance has been issued by Scottish ministers to local a…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is given to local authorities on the operation of quality bus interchange and corridor projects; what contribution to these projects is required from bus operators, and what guidance is given on monitoring these projects.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Transport (Scotland)Act 2001 gave transport authorities powers to implement Quality Measures intheir areas including Quality Contracts and Quality Partnerships. Guidance onthe use of Quality Measures is contained in Guidance on Part 2 (Bus Services)of the…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is given to local authorities on assessing and validating bus operators’ returns in respect of the use of their services by concessionary travel card holders.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Since the introduction of theScotland-wide Free Bus Concession Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People on1 April 2006, the responsibility of assessing and validating all bus operators’claims for reimbursement lies with Transport Scotland and not the local…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is given to local authorities on the operation of the national concessionary travel scheme.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland issued guidancenotes to local authorities and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (who act onbehalf of the 12 Strathclyde local authorities) giving details of the eligibilitycriteria, the application process and the benefits of the scheme…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what competition criteria have to be addressed in applications by local authorities for funding under the Bus Route Development Grant scheme and whether these criteria include a requirement that services should be subject to tender.

Answer · Tavish Scott: As a public servicesconcession contract within the terms of European Regulation 1191/69, Bus RouteDevelopment Grant guidance states that, as projects should be identified inconjunction with the bus operator(s) whom it is intended will run them, theservices sh…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) monthly and (b) annual cost is of the Bus Route Development Grant paid through Fife Council to Stagecoach for services other than its service from Inverkeithing to Edinburgh Airport, its number 99 service in the St Andrews to Dundee corridor and its number 78 service between …

Answer · Tavish Scott: For the Kirkcaldy toGlenrothes and the Townhill to Dunfermlineservices, Fife Council has been granteda maximum allocation in Bus Route Development Grant funding of £350,000 and£590,000 respectively over the three year life of the project. Within thatmaximum, …

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) monthly and (b) annual cost is of the Bus Route Development Grant paid through Fife Council to Stagecoach for its number 78 service between Dunfermline and High Valleyfield; whether this service was put out to tender, and what the monthly ridership figures are for the most re…

Answer · Tavish Scott: For the Dunfermlineto High Valleyfield service, FifeCouncil has been granted a maximum allocation in Bus Route Development Grantfunding of £301,000 over the three year life of the project. Within thatmaximum, the actual cost and phasing of payments will depen…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) monthly and (b) annual cost is of the Bus Route Development Grant paid through Fife Council to Stagecoach for its number 99 service in the St Andrews to Dundee corridor; whether this service was put out to tender, and what the monthly ridership figures are for the most recent…

Answer · Tavish Scott: For the St Andrews toDundee service, Fife Council has been granteda maximum allocation in Bus Route Development Grant funding of £593,000 over thethree year life of the project. Within that maximum, the actual cost and phasingof payments will depend on the pe…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) monthly and (b) annual cost is of the Bus Route Development Grant paid through Fife Council to Stagecoach for its service from Inverkeithing to Edinburgh Airport; whether this service was put out to tender, and what the monthly ridership figures are for the most recent period…

Answer · Tavish Scott: For the Inverkeithing to Edinburgh Airport service, Fife Council has been granted a maximum allocation inBus Route Development Grant funding of £672,000 over the three year life of theproject. Within that maximum, the actual cost and phasing of payments will …

27 Sep 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to make first aid training a core part of the curriculum in all education establishments.

Answer · Robert Brown: The curriculum reviewwork to date has shown that space can be found in the curriculum for wider learningexperiences such as first aid, but the nature of these will be for education authoritiesand schools to decide.

26 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to consult on the law relating to the compellability of spousal witnesses.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is publishingtoday a short consultation on proposals to amend the law on compellability of spousalwitnesses.Copies of the consultation havebeen placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39933).

24 May 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made to regenerate brownfield sites such as those in Dunfermline East.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: TheExecutive is promoting and supporting brownfield regeneration in a number ofways. For example,The Executive’s planning policy gives priority to the re-useof previously developed land, where appropriate, in preference to greenfield development; and</…

16 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the proposed examination of the economic, social and environmental impact and cost of retaining or removing tolls from the Tay and Forth bridges will begin and what form it will take.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The study will addressconcerns raised in the Scottish Parliament about the retention of tolls on the Tay and Forth Road Bridges.Wewill engage independent consultants to carry out a detailed study of theeconomic, social and environmental costs and impac…

19 Apr 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Dalgety Bay Forum regarding the placing of signs on Dalgety Bay beach warning of low radioactivity.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is representedon the Dalgety Bay Forum and participated in the discussions on the 4 April, resultingin the recommendation to Fife Council to place signs at the Dalgety Bay beach toadvise members of the public of the potential for exposure to rad…

22 Feb 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify its funding policy in respect of organic farming.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Our fundingpolicy is, within the resources available, to support the development of a sustainableorganic farming industry that makes a strong contribution to the management of Scotland’s agricultural land and water resources.The Organic Action Plan, wh…

18 Nov 2005 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the cost has been of processing freedom of information requests from journalists and broadcasters, broken down by (a) journalist or broadcaster and (b) publication or broadcasting organisation.

Answer · Duncan McNeil: The SPCB has spent an estimated 6,979 hours processing freedom of information requests received from journalists and broadcasters completed between 1 January 2005 and 25 November 2005 at a cost of £139,570. The details referring to eachjournalist/broadcaster …

18 Nov 2005 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the cost has been to date of processing freedom of information requests from (a) members of the public and (b) journalists and broadcasters, broken down into (i) staff time and (ii) other costs.

3 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of freedom of information requests from journalists and broadcasters, broken down by (a) journalist or broadcaster and (b) publication or broadcasting organisation.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Responding to requests for information is regarded as part of routine business for all Executive staff we do not, therefore, hold information on the costs of complying with each individual request, nor do we ask staff to record on a routine basis the estimate…

3 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been to date of processing freedom of information requests from (a) members of the public and (b) journalists and broadcasters, broken down into (i) staff time and (ii) other costs.

19 Oct 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has for the disposal of sewage sludge and other municipal waste, in particular in respect of further support for energy projects offering disposal solutions.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Scottish Water is responsible for dealing with sewage sludge; local authorities have a similar responsibility for municipal waste. In both cases, the Scottish Executive supports recovery and recycling where this can be done satisfactorily.

9 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the European Commission in respect of its Report on osteoporosis in the European Community: Action for Prevention, published in 1998.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive has had no such discussions.

8 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what predictions have been made of the number of osteoporotic fractures in Scotland in the next 50 years and what information it has on such predictions across Europe.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is not held centrally.

8 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had on osteoporosis with the European Commission.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive has had no such discussions.

8 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to undertake an educational campaign to highlight and raise public awareness of the steps that each individual can take to prevent the development of osteoporosis.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There are no plans to develop such a campaign. Some of the risk factors for osteoporosis are not modifiable, for examples age, sex, ethnic origin, reproductive factors such as early menopause and genetic factors. Modifiable risk factors include poor diet, lac…